Metabolic syndrome: Current syndemic evidence, diagnosis, treatment and diet therapy

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a complex clinical condition characterized by the combination of cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors, such as abdominal obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. Faced with this challenging scenario, this review proposes to provide a comprehensive update on this critical public health problem. Through a syndemic approach, we seek to highlight the interrelationship between metabolic risk factors and their implications for public health, considering social and economic contexts. We addressed various diagnostic criteria from organizations such as WHO, EGIR, NCEP-ATP III, AACE/ACE, IDF, AHA/NHLBI and JIS, emphasizing the need for standardization to facilitate clinical screening. It is a narrative review and focused on evidence from the last 10 years, highlighting advances in drug and nutritional treatments. The use of the WHO, NCEP-ATP III, and IDF criteria is especially recommended, as they offer a comprehensive and consistent approach to the diagnosis of MS. In view of the current evidence, the importance of personalized drug therapy and dietary interventions is emphasized, highlighting the DASH and Mediterranean diets as effective strategies. It is concluded that MS shows a syndemic character, requiring urgent attention from public health policies. The standardization of diagnostic criteria, the training of health professionals for early identification, and the implementation of government programs are essential to mitigate this condition, especially in primary care, underscoring the need for integrated and sustainable approaches to address this significant global health challenge.